"It's crazy to see how many people there was at the ceremony. It felt like I had been accepted years ago, but it's nice to be able to travel without visas. It's just another thing that I've been given here of which I'm really proud.

"I came over here to play rugby and the opportunity that I've been given is really special, I'll always be grateful for that. I'm hoping to build on that the next few years.

"Sometimes I look back and...I'm an Irish citizen now. It has been really good for me. I'm just trying to give as much back as I can on the rugby pitch and in this environment, and especially in Connacht as well.

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It's been some journey. Roux left South Africa as he was behind Eben Etzebeth and Andries Bekker in the Stormers pecking order.

But his first year away from home was as difficult as could be, an injury-ravaged debut season with Leinster compounded by the fact that he lived alone in Milltown.

“It finished off really good because we won the PRO12 and I played in the Challenge Cup final against Stade Francais," he recalled.

“During the season, I was really frustrated, being so young, being in an environment with a lot of internationals. I had a lot of time to learn some patience.

“You want to show what you have and I never got to the point where I could put my hand up and show the reason why I got signed.

"It doesn’t always work out the way you want it to.”

Midway through his second year he moved to Connacht and he has stayed, buying a house in Knocknacarra last year with his wife Rentus.

Galway is where the lock wants to stay for the rest of his career, and it's where they intend to put down roots.

"I probably didn’t get along that well with the coach (Matt O’Connor) at Leinster, which is fair, you can’t get along with everyone," Roux reflected.

"I got opportunities to play with Pat Lam in Galway, and I haven’t really looked back since. It’s been really good for me. My wife really loves Galway. We’ve really settled in there, so we’re really happy.

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After the disappointment of not getting the call for the initial Six Nations squad, on the back of a good November for Ireland, Roux took advantage of the second row injury situation almost a fortnight ago - starting for the first time in the championship against Scotland.

Does he dream of the prospect of facing South Africa in the World Cup quarter-finals?

“I need to play well if I want to go to the World Cup in the first place, so that’s all I’m thinking about," Roux said.